Leigh’s town centre gets a ‘glow up’ with the new civic square due to open to the public this weekend
Work has been taking place to transform the civic square in Leigh town centre.
Leigh’s revamped civic square is set to be officially unveiled this weekend following a programme of improvements.
Described by Wigan Council as a central part of Leigh’s regeneration project, the new-look square has been designed to “create a welcoming and vibrant destination in the heart of the town centre”.
Work has been completed on new paving, seating, improved landscaping and lighting and public realm features.
A poem by Leigh Young Writers, with help from local poets Louise Fazackerley and Natasha Tingle, will be engraved into the new paving.
Leaning on the expertise of Leigh, Atherton, and Tyldesley Heritage Group, there will be a heritage timeline designed to feature key events and milestones from the square's past dating from 1762 to the present day.
Believe stars will be refreshed and reinstalled, including a new star for the town’s successful indie rock band The Lottery Winners.
The Pete Shelley Memorial Group will also plant a cherry tree as part of its memorial garden in the square.
The council said the space aims to build on a programme of successful events hosted in recent years, “ensuring that the square continues to serve as an attractive space for people to meet, relax and enjoy a range of community events”.
Coun Dane Anderton, portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration, said: “We are delighted to unveil the new and improved civic square and provide residents with a revamped, welcoming space that reflects the pride that we have in Leigh.
“We have had the help of community groups when it came to redesigning the square, and I am really pleased to see how the revamp looks and how it will be able to accommodate a variety of events in the future.”
The refreshed public space will officially open to the public on Saturday.
From 11am to 3pm, there will be two outdoor performances - a vibrant contemporary circus theatre show and a live production from musicians, dancers and cooks from around the world.
There will also be several craft activities, including a jelly printing session delivered by The Turnpike Centre and a Lego building project with Wigan and Leigh Archive Service.